Youth make a global appeal to Benedict XVI
-22/08/05
Nine global Catholic youth organizations have called on Pope Benedict XVI to give particular attention to the needs of one billion young people across the globe, 85 per cent of whom live in Africa and Asia. They highlight the need for access to education, land, food, employment and communications technologies, and for ìa spirituality of actionî that links faith to everyday life.
The appeal comes in the form of a common statement released as part of last weekís World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne, Germany. The groups producing it are members of the Conference of International Catholic Organizations (CICO). They represent a diverse network including workers, students, rural and parish youth, scouts, guides, and the Pax Christi international peace movement.
The two-page document looks at the global reality of young people in the face of poverty, conflict, HIV/AIDS and unemployment. It calls for cooperation with the Church in tackling inequality as one of the roots of ìan increase in conflict, fundamentalism and intolerance in our world.î
Kevin Ahern, who heads the International Movement of Catholic Students explains: ìAs youth ICO’s we are organizing millions of young people around the world to respond to these global challenges with a spirituality of action which integrates our Christian faith into our daily lives and actions. As part of this we encourage young people to critically reflect in light of their faith on the realities of our world.î
In a message which will be seen as a challenge to the perceived hierarchy and centralism of the Catholic Church, the youth groups stress the importance of independent action, non-formal education and ìalternative spacesî in galvanising cooperation for justice and peace.
They call upon church leaders ìto support and accompany young peopleî in the activities of global solidarity and peacemaking, ìas they respond to their calling as Christians to build up the kingdom of God.î
Pope Benedict yesterday concluded his four-day visit to Germany as part of the World Youth Day celebrations inaugurated by his predecessor, John Paul II. A Mass for nearly one million people at Marienfeld (Maryís field) near Cologne was the climax of a trip which included significant meetings with Jewish and Muslim leaders, as well as an appeal for a resurgence of Catholicism in Europe.
Youth make a global appeal to Benedict XVI
-22/08/05
Nine global Catholic youth organizations have called on Pope Benedict XVI to give particular attention to the needs of one billion young people across the globe, 85 per cent of whom live in Africa and Asia. They highlight the need for access to education, land, food, employment and communications technologies, and for ‘a spirituality of action’ that links faith to everyday life.
The appeal comes in the form of a common statement released as part of last week’s World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne, Germany. The groups producing it are members of the Conference of International Catholic Organizations (CICO). They represent a diverse network including workers, students, rural and parish youth, scouts, guides, and the Pax Christi international peace movement.
The two-page document looks at the global reality of young people in the face of poverty, conflict, HIV/AIDS and unemployment. It calls for cooperation with the Church in tackling inequality as one of the roots of ‘an increase in conflict, fundamentalism and intolerance in our world.’
Kevin Ahern, who heads the International Movement of Catholic Students explains: ‘As youth ICO’s we are organizing millions of young people around the world to respond to these global challenges with a spirituality of action which integrates our Christian faith into our daily lives and actions. As part of this we encourage young people to critically reflect in light of their faith on the realities of our world.’
In a message which will be seen as a challenge to the perceived hierarchy and centralism of the Catholic Church, the youth groups stress the importance of independent action, non-formal education and ‘alternative spaces’ in galvanising cooperation for justice and peace.
They call upon church leaders ‘to support and accompany young people’ in the activities of global solidarity and peacemaking, ‘as they respond to their calling as Christians to build up the kingdom of God.’
Pope Benedict yesterday concluded his four-day visit to Germany as part of the World Youth Day celebrations inaugurated by his predecessor, John Paul II. A Mass for nearly one million people at Marienfeld (Mary’s field) near Cologne was the climax of a trip which included significant meetings with Jewish and Muslim leaders, as well as an appeal for a resurgence of Catholicism in Europe.